Abstract: A meditation aid is provided. The meditation aid has three ritual objects. A first outer set of six bar members are connected in a pyramid formation. The pyramid formation has four corner portions defining six medial connecting points. A second inner set of twelve bar members are connected in a penta-tetrahedron formation. The penta-tetrahedron formation is centrally suspended within the pyramid formation by a set of four strut members. The four strut members are evenly disposed in connection with each of a respective one of each of the four corner portions. A third innermost set of three medially connected bar members is configured in a jacks-like star formation. The opposite ends, of the star formation bar members, are evenly disposed in spaced relationship for connection to a respective one of each of the six medial connecting points.

Abstract: A surface coating system and process and a construction surface restoration system and process are disclosed that utilize advantageous protective materials as coating and filling media. The bonding characteristics of the protective materials are such that surfaces coated with the protective materials and process possess improved and more diversified force absorption attributes. The filler material is capable of imitating pre-existing construction surfaces and possesses a substantial longevity.

Abstract: According to the invention there is in conjunction with a pneumatic tire having a central tread, one or more radially-extending belt(s) disposed radially inwardly of the tread and an innerliner disposed radially inwardly of the belt. Apparatus for mounting an electronic tag (40) within the tire is characterized by a patch (70) having a first side (72) for mounting against the innerliner of the tire; a second arcuately-shaped side (73) and an internally threaded member (71); and an externally threaded member (64) having a portion extending from a side (74) of the tag and threadable into the internally threaded member of the patch.

Abstract: A system for monitoring at least one tire condition value in each of a plurality of pneumatic tires of a moving vehicle, wherein each of the tires has associated therewith a passive electronic tire tag for sensing the at least one tire condition value and is responsive to an interrogation signal transmitted thereto to transmit a data modulated signal representative of the at least one tire condition value. The monitoring system includes portable ramp apparatus for supporting the moving vehicle, portable vehicle sensing apparatus for sensing the presence of the moving vehicle and tire pressure sensing apparatus embedded in the ramp apparatus for detecting the presence thereon of a vehicle tire on the ramp apparatus. In addition, the monitoring system includes transmitter antenna structure and receiver antenna structure respectively embedded in the ramp apparatus.

Abstract: A quantum well infrared photodetector focal plane array is disclosed wherein each detector structure of the array comprises two vertically stacked quantum well layers. Each of the quantum well layers are individually biased by separate bias voltages and the separate bias voltages are modulated to produce two or more measurements at different spectral bands. Each detector structure of the array can therefore perform measurements of incident infrared energy in at least four separate spectral bands. This technique of measuring incident infrared energy in four separate spectral bands can advantageously be applied to the discrimination of hot gas sources from background infrared clutter.

Abstract: Provided is a method of monitoring conditions of a pneumatic tire comprising a central tread, one or more belt(s) disposed radially inwardly of the tread and an inner-liner disposed radially inwardly of the belt(s), the belt(s) having a side edge. An electronic tag and associated condition sensors are disposed within the tire. The method includes: sensing a first temperature which is temperature of the tire inner-liner adjacent to the bet edge with the electronic tag; sensing a second temperature which is the air temperature within the tire with the electronic tag; and sensing air pressure within the tire with the electronic tag.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire monitoring system for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies mounted on a vehicle, preferably in combination with a tire pressurizing and regulating apparatus, comprises a transponder with a transmitting antenna mounted on the wheel for transmitting a signal indicating tire condition, one or more receivers with receiving antennas fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and circuitry for processing the received signals; the system characterized in that: circuitry for each transponder is on a printed circuit board within a protective housing coaxial to the hub of the wheel or wheel carrier; and each transmitting antenna is selected from the group comprising a partial loop antenna, a helical antenna, a circular dipole antenna, and a small coupling coil adjacent to an endless hoop antenna.

Abstract: A system for monitoring at least one tire condition value in each of a plurality of pneumatic tires of a moving vehicle, wherein each of the tires has associated therewith a passive electronic tire tag for sensing the at least one tire condition value and is responsive to an interrogation signal transmitted thereto to transmit a data modulated signal representative of the at least one tire condition value. The monitoring system includes portable ramp apparatus for supporting the moving vehicle, portable vehicle sensing apparatus for sensing the presence of the moving vehicle and tire pressure sensing apparatus embedded in the ramp apparatus for detecting the presence thereon of a vehicle tire on the ramp apparatus. In addition, the monitoring system includes transmitter antenna structure and receiver antenna structure respectively embedded in the ramp apparatus.

Abstract: A method of monitoring at least one tire condition value of each of a plurality of tires of a moving vehicle, with a monitoring system. Each of the tires has an electronic tire tag for sensing the tire condition value of the associated tire. The monitoring system has vehicle sensing apparatus, ramp apparatus, tire sensing apparatus, transceiver apparatus and computer apparatus removably electrically connected thereto and to the vehicle sensing apparatus and tire sensing apparatus. The method comprises the steps of determining whether the vehicle sensing apparatus has sensed the moving vehicle on the ramp apparatus supporting the moving vehicle. In addition the method includes the steps of determining whether respective tires of the moving vehicle have been sensed by the tire sensing apparatus, and transmitting an interrogation signal when the tire sensing apparatus senses at least one tire.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for resetting a directly resettable micro-mechanical temperature memory switch (MTMS) (16e) having an unlatched state (24e) and latched state (26e) in an electronic tire tag (90). The resetting process includes providing the electronic tire tag (90) with a radio frequency RF antenna (102) directly electrically connected to the MTMS (16e) for applying thereto an RF signal 104 having a predetermined frequency f2; and providing transmitter structure (66e) for transmitting to the antenna (102) an RF signal (94) having the predetermined frequency (f2). The process includes disposing the tag within a tire and resetting the MTMS to the unlatched state subsequent to the tire reaching a predetermined temperature to cause the MTMS to go into the latched state.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic tag (60) that includes a transponder (62) and a micro-mechanical temperature memory switch (MTMS) (16a) having an unlatched state (24a) and latched state (26a) and a method of resetting the MTMS (16a). The method includes the step of providing second apparatus (68, 72) for providing a second D.C. signal (73) and an electronic switching circuit (67) for receiving the first and second D.C. signals (48a, 73). The electronic switching circuit (67) is connected for normally applying the first D.C. signal (48a) to the logic circuit (50a) and for diverting the first D.C. signal (48a) therefrom to the MTMS (16a) for resetting the MTMS (16a) in response to receiving the second D.C. signal (73).

Abstract: A pipe laying apparatus comprising a frame mounted on two or more wheels, with a motor and a cutting disk for cutting a narrow slit in the ground. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a blade following the disk and having a conduit on the end with a nozzle on one end of the conduit that issues a jet of water into the bottom of the slit to form a channel. The pipe is attached to the other end of the conduit and is pulled into position in the channel as the apparatus advances. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus has a winch and pulley used to deploy a wire into the slit as the apparatus is moved forward. The other end of the wire is attached to a nozzle and conduit with the pipe attached in turn to the conduit. When the apparatus is stoppped, the winch rewinds the wire while the nozzle sprays a jet of water in the direction of movement to form the channel and allow the pipe to be easily pulled into position.